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25 vent generally ofan -infian1mab1e-charac-.

ter after the paint for varnlshcoating has Patented Nov. 20, 1923.

UNITED STATES I 1,474,984 PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK A. VAN N ESS, OF YONKERS, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-iHAI-I LOREN BABNHABT, 0F YONKERS NEW YORK.

No Drawing.

Toall whom it may concern Be' -ItknOWn that FRANK A. VAN Nnss, citizen" of the United States, residing at Yonkers, in the count-y of lVestchester and Stilieifof-.New York, has invented certain d useful Improvements in Paint rnish Removers, of which the followinfifis a specification. This-invention relates-to paint and varnish removers, and particularly to a highly efficient "non-poisonous and non-injurious composition for facilitating the removal of coatings from painted or varnished surfaces. Paint andvarnish removers heretofore in. use have been composed of volatile and inflammable. solvents, and frequently contain waxy-materials to retard evaporation of the solvent when the latter is applied to a surface The fire hazard in the use of inflammable removers isapparent, and numerous fires have in fact: resulted from such use. Furthermore, the inclusion of waxy retarder's in the compositions results in the formation of a film on the treated surface which mustbe washed with a solbeen Iremoved, jf-To avoid th e'use of inflammable solvents, -the use of corrosive substances such as starting alkalies and acids has been proposed, but compositions containing these ingredients are injurious to the under] mg snrfacairequently causing swellin 0 the wood grain, and the workmen using these varnish removers are liable ,to injury from inadvertent application thereof to the skin.

It is the primary object of the present invention to provide an inexpensive varnish remover which is free from the objectionable features of the compositions above do:- scribed.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a varnish remover which may be readily applied-and easily washed with water from the surface treated, leaving the surface in condition for immediate application of a new. paint or varnish coating.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will appear in the following specification wherein I have set forth the preferred embodiments thereof.

I have discovered that an aliphatic al-.

bined with spirits of turpentineand with Application filed September 19, 1921. Serial No. 501,644.

a mildly alkaline material provides a substantially non-volatile varnish remover which is very effective even when greatldiluted by the addition of water. Bot the alcohol and the turpentine are active solvents for the oils and resins of which are mobile liquids and have marked solvent properties. preferably employ soda ash (sodium carbonate) which acts as a saponifyingagent As an alkaline material, I'

for the oils and resins and does not injure the underlying surface. The water reduces the cost of the varnish remover and serves the highly desirable purpose of rendering it less volatile and non-inflammable;-

Evaporation of the alcohol may be retarded bythe addition of aqua-ammonia.

which, because of itsalkaline=character," aids in softening and loosening the coating. Ordinary soap may also be introduced to the composition to add body ;to the liq uid, the soap acting with the soda'ashand" ammonia as a detergent tofacil1tatc the removal of the softening coatin b the plicationof water thereto. Q

I have also discovered that. the p enetration of the alcohol may be increased by the" addition of'oil .ot camphor to tbe mixture,

and that small quantities of, coniferous oils such as pineand cedar OllS may be'added advantageously as penetrating solvents which prevent premature drying of the composition on the wood. The various womponcnts paint and varnish removermay be readily mixed by stirring, solution of the solid 'inof the li uid grmlicnts being accomplished with or withoul l'bc aiilotheat. The result isa milky non-viscous liquid similar in appearance to an emulsion but separating on standing into three layers. Before application, the

liquid should be thoroughly stirred to recombine the separated layers.

\Vhcn the remover is applied, the solvents attack the oils and resins. bringing them into solution, inwhich condition they are saponificd by the alkali and convertediinto soluble soaps which are readily removed by washing with water. The proportion and strength' -of the alkali employed should be e such the wood 'unattackedfthus preventing raising the grain and leaving the pores filled dition of certain v with mildly allra ine materials whichv increase the solvent'properties and saponify' as to leave the resins inthe pores'of and ready-forrecoating.

tive to a high degree. Itmaybe applied to-painted, enamelled, varnished, and shellaced surfaces It will also effectively remove'carbon from-brick fireplaces, willfcut It will also grease 'on .wood, iron" or cloth. cleansebrwk surfaces, cement floors and removepaint and varnishes from cloth; linen,-

muslin and bristles of brushes. After application the liquid may be readily washed away with water. v v. j

A typical illustrative type of paint and varnish remo er ofthis character. may

y' varnish remover at t e temperature of applicationv of the varnish remover and non-in urious, the actipn of which may be accelerated the adne'trating oils, together the oils orresins in vthe paintorvarni h -coating.- The 'use of this varnish remover 'entirely obviates the difiiculties experienced with varnish remo'vers heretofore knoWn,'-.

since there is no danger of fire, and washing with inflannhaoie solvents to remove resid ual waxy films is unnecessary. Moreover, the ingredients of my varnish" remover can not 1n ure the workmen.

a I have described the preferred embodiments of the invention but the composition may be varied, and essentially consists of a solvent arid a saponifying agent for the oilsand resins of the paint and varnish i and particularly an aliphatic alcohol com-4 bined with turpentine and'amildly alkaline material as liereinbefore described.-

Having thus described my invention, I

atent:. 1. A non-in jurious-p'ain't and varnish remover'compnslng a-mildly alkaline liquid of an or%anic solvent for oils uted with waterf-a I A v claim as new and desire to secure by'Letters I find that the liquid paint and varnish P remover as hereinbefore-des'crilied is eli'ec- 2. A non-injurious paint-and varnish, 're-" mover, comprising a mildly alkaline liquid consisting of a lower' aliphatic alcohol di 'luted with water and combined with till",

pentine, sodium carbonat'eand ammonia. -3. A alon-injurious paint and varnish remover comprising a mildly alkaline, liquid consis'ting .of.a-lower aliphatic alcohol dilutedwith water and combined with turpentin'd'sodium carbonate, ammona and soap.

4.;Amon-injurious paint and varnish 'remover comprising mildlyalkaline' liquid cons stin of -an rganic solvent for" oils, resins anigilms'id lutedwith water and combined .witl gs'odiymfcarb onate and ammonia,

the penet'ratingf'power of the solvent being augmented by 011 of jcalnphor.-

non-injurious paint andvarnish re mover comprising'ia mildly alkaline liquid 'cons'isting of -ail, organic solvent forjoils; ,r'sins, and' glimstdiluted with water and com- .-e.bin ed w.i tl, ff=. biilum carbonate and ammonia, thehpentijatingfpower of the solvent being gallgmente'd oil of'campho'r, oilof pine "andoilfoffcedar.

um carbonate, ammonia and soa all combined and diluted with water, it e proprotion of the ingredients mentioned except the water being approximately 270 parts in' 1000 arts of the liquid. 5 -7. Karon-injurious paint and varnish remover comprising soap parts,'soda ash '40 parts, aqua ammonia 40 parts, alcohol 75 parts and turpentine 40 parts combined and diluted with water.

'-6.'A non-injurious paint-and varnish reinovercomprising alcohol, turpentine, sodi- In testimony whereof Iaflix my signature.

FRANK A, VAN NES-S. 

